My palms were sweating and my blood pressure was up! I was anxious about the consequences of something my oldest son neglected to do. As a dual credit high school student, Ayri (16 years old) is home-schooled in one of the most challenging curriculum in the world as well as being enrolled in college courses. What were we thinking?
Well, I know exactly what you're thinking. How does he have time for both? Ayri is my reluctant athlete. He has all of the ability in the world, but lacks the desire to play organized sports like football and basketball. He can run like the wind and does about 500 to 1000 push-ups and sit-ups a day. He also plays the drums in our congregation's youth band and has a part-time job dangerously disposing of mold in commercial buildings. When he's not sleeping or eating, he is studying. This is all for a good purpose, because he wants to be able to get a decent job and provide for his future family in whatever way God leads.
Although the Ayri literally means nice, good, happy and pleasing in Jamaican vernacular, this season is all but those for my determined son. He's learning many lessons right now that will carry him throughout his life. Okay, back to the story about my sweaty palms! All semester, my son worked very hard to get an A in his course. He had a 98% and then IT HAPPENED! Today he tells me that the final exam that he thought was on Friday was actually yesterday!! The semester was over and he was given a ZERO for the exam. His final grade would be 78%, a C.
Now, there is nothing wrong with getting a C unless you had an A+ in the bag. We checked to see if there was a way to take the test late. There was absolutely no option. Ayri thought it was hopeless and that there's nothing he can do. I immediately thought of the parable of the persistent widow in the Bible! You know, the one in Luke chapter 18 where the widow wanted justice from an unjust judge. He denied her, but she kept "bothering" him until he eventually gave in just to get her off is back.
My wife and I both agreed that Ayri should email the professor and beg for a chance to at least take the exam, even though it was Ayri's mistake that he assumed the wrong date. We encouraged him to be persistent even if it meant that he only got partial credit for the exam. Partial credit would most likely get him to at least a B. He reluctantly gave it a try and sent two emails, because the professor denied the first. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting....
The suspense was horrible, but we were willing to keep asking until we were completely shut down. Waiting, waiting, waiting... As we moved on to other things, Ayri comes up to me and says "Hey dad, the professor said that the class is closed. So, I can't take the test, but he said he'll give me the same grade I got on the last exam." Well, his last exam was a 97%!! Hallelujah! He get's to keep his A+!! God has shown us His favor! The professor was not obligated to help Ayri in any way, because it was my son's carelessness that caused him to miss the exam. I'm so thankful that the professors heart was moved to help Ayri learn two valuable lessons: 1) Pay attention to the schedule, and 2) Persistence and perseverance pays off, especially when God is on your side!!!
Well, I know exactly what you're thinking. How does he have time for both? Ayri is my reluctant athlete. He has all of the ability in the world, but lacks the desire to play organized sports like football and basketball. He can run like the wind and does about 500 to 1000 push-ups and sit-ups a day. He also plays the drums in our congregation's youth band and has a part-time job dangerously disposing of mold in commercial buildings. When he's not sleeping or eating, he is studying. This is all for a good purpose, because he wants to be able to get a decent job and provide for his future family in whatever way God leads.
Although the Ayri literally means nice, good, happy and pleasing in Jamaican vernacular, this season is all but those for my determined son. He's learning many lessons right now that will carry him throughout his life. Okay, back to the story about my sweaty palms! All semester, my son worked very hard to get an A in his course. He had a 98% and then IT HAPPENED! Today he tells me that the final exam that he thought was on Friday was actually yesterday!! The semester was over and he was given a ZERO for the exam. His final grade would be 78%, a C.
Now, there is nothing wrong with getting a C unless you had an A+ in the bag. We checked to see if there was a way to take the test late. There was absolutely no option. Ayri thought it was hopeless and that there's nothing he can do. I immediately thought of the parable of the persistent widow in the Bible! You know, the one in Luke chapter 18 where the widow wanted justice from an unjust judge. He denied her, but she kept "bothering" him until he eventually gave in just to get her off is back.
My wife and I both agreed that Ayri should email the professor and beg for a chance to at least take the exam, even though it was Ayri's mistake that he assumed the wrong date. We encouraged him to be persistent even if it meant that he only got partial credit for the exam. Partial credit would most likely get him to at least a B. He reluctantly gave it a try and sent two emails, because the professor denied the first. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting....
The suspense was horrible, but we were willing to keep asking until we were completely shut down. Waiting, waiting, waiting... As we moved on to other things, Ayri comes up to me and says "Hey dad, the professor said that the class is closed. So, I can't take the test, but he said he'll give me the same grade I got on the last exam." Well, his last exam was a 97%!! Hallelujah! He get's to keep his A+!! God has shown us His favor! The professor was not obligated to help Ayri in any way, because it was my son's carelessness that caused him to miss the exam. I'm so thankful that the professors heart was moved to help Ayri learn two valuable lessons: 1) Pay attention to the schedule, and 2) Persistence and perseverance pays off, especially when God is on your side!!!
RSS Feed
